East Africa is a hotbed of political and economic activity in sub-Saharan Africa. It has been a major recipient of aid from the United States, both military and economic, and has also served as an important area for U.S. trade. If the United States can focus its efforts on education, political cooperation, and investment in the area, some of these countries may become its strongest allies.

Since the formation of the Chinese Communist party, the world has watched China evolve into the world power it is today. However, the rise in Chinese foreign investments indicates a weakening homeland where Chinese billionaires do not want to store their capital. Consequently, China is playing a deceiving game of economic protectionism masked by a rise in soft power. The fact that both the Chinese state and private sectors are seeking to move significant amounts of capital overseas as opposed to investing at home, however, is a reflection of perceptions of the condition of the domestic economy.

Since South Sudan voted for independence in 2011, tensions with Sudan have been exceptionally high, particularly in relation to the geographical alignment of Abyei, a small region on the North-South Border. After the Ngok Dinka held a unilateral referendum in October 2013 to push Abyei into the South, ethnic violence and disagreements over oil exports may threaten to destabilize the region making Abyei a critical security concern for the international community.

Germany has entered a period of navel gazing, limiting the EU’s ability to become a powerful actor on the world stage. Angela Merkel’s recent victory in the German elections reinforced domestic pressures within Germany to remain pacifist. Policy makers should attempt to strengthen ties politically and institutionally with willing EU partners in the short term.

The UN crossed a new threshold in moving towards the authorization of offensive force by its troops. While initial results are positive, the US should respect and support international efforts and help in any way possible, thus helping to establish a healthy multi-lateral option to tackle international security concerns, and that can be used as a model in years to come.